Carpet-sweeper.



PATENTED JULY 14, .1903..

No. 733,904. y H. DODD.

CARPET SW'EEPER- APPLICATION. FILED SEPT. 2.*1899. BNEWBD SEPT. 23, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

PATB'NTBD JULY 14, 1903.. A. H. D ODD. CARPET SWBEPER. PPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2. 1899. BEII'BWED SBPTZB, 1902.

a SHEETS-SHEET z.

N0 MODEL.

No. 733.904. PATBNTBD JULY 14, 1903.. l

CARPET SWEEPBR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. z. 1899. nmmwn SEPT. 23. 1902, No MODEL. a SHEETS-SHEET* a.

Maffay? y@ no. teaeoi.

UNITED ySTATESV Patented July 14, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CARPET-SWEEPER.

PECIFIGATIN forming par?. 0f Letters Patent No. 733,904, dated July 14, 1903. Application filed September 2, 1899. Renewed September 23. 1902. Serial No. 124,601. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it Netty con-cern.-

Be it known that I, ALVIN H. -DODD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Sweepers; and I do dcclare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to carpet-sweepers;

and it has for its object to construct a sweeper having the brush rotatable in the same direction in both the backward and forward movement ofthe sweeper, in which the mechanism for that purpose shall be composed of a minimum number of parts, so as to lighten the weight of the sweeper, lessen the cost of manufacture, and at the same time have the parts direct and positive in their action.

It has also for its object to so construct and arrange the parts that they will be efficiently housed against the entrance of dust or dirt to the working parts, which, if permitted, would impair the efficient working ofthe several parts.

It has also for ils object to so construct and arrange the parts that in case the sweeper should strike more than an ordinary blow against any obstruction the parts will be cushioned, so that no injury will result from the blow.

It has also for its object to render the parts as noiseless as possible in their operation.

It has further for its object to provide im'- proved means for sustaining the dust-pan and to so connect the same with the casing of the sweeper that the brush will normally be out of or but lightly in contact with the floor and yet may be readily brought into contact therewith when thesweeper is in operation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoingand such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the construction and also in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter particularly described and then sought to be clearly defined bythe claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the sweeper with the casing partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the same on the line 2 2 ot Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the drivingrod and the brush-core and their actuating parts with 'certain parts in section. Fig. 4'is a detail View of the ring or collar between the two sections of the brush-core. detail side view of the yoke which sustains the driving-rod at the end next to the driving-shaft. Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the Fig. 5 is a ratchet gear-wheels'and oneof the pawl or dog plates or disks with the protecting-cap removed. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the drivy ing-rod. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of the brush-core and its ball-bearings. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the brush-core, showing a modified form of journal. Fig. 10 is a perspective of a portion'of the dust-pan and of one of the supporting-arms for the same, the parts being separated. Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the part-s shown in Fig. 10 with the parts assembled. Fig. 12 is a cross-sec-V tion on line 12 12 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the dust-pan and one of its supporting-arms, showing a flat shoe instead of a wheel for sustaining the brush normally raised. Fig. 14 is a cross-section on line 14 14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view containing the modification illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the sides of the casing, which may be made of metal, and 2 designates the shell of the casing, which preferably is made of light wood bent into shape, the sides and the shell being secured together by suitable tie-rodsV 3.

The numeral 4 designates the core' of the brush, which is made of two 'parts divided transversely and provided with bristles 5 the brush being positioned-so as to have it project in front of the casing, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2.

next to the side piece l are recessed and provided inside of the recess with a cup 5a and also with a cone 6,balls 7 being located between the cup and cone, so as to form a ball-bearing, and a screw 8 passes through the side of The ends of the brush-core the casing and enters the cone 6, the threaded connection between the screw and cone enabling the latter to be adjusted to regulate the ballbearing. The 4cone is prevented 5 from rotating by means of a pin 9, which passes through the side piece 1 and into the cone, asillustrated clearly in Fig. 8, thus allowing the brush-core to turn on the pintle portion of the cone without the latter turno ing. The side pieces 1 are also formed with bosses 10, which enter the recesses in the ends of the brush-core, as illustrated in both Figs. S and 9 of the drawings. By recessing the ends of the brush-core, so as to receive 5 the parts of the journal-bearings and also the bosses of the side pieces, the bearings are so located and protected that: trash is prevented from entering the bearings and iinpairing their efficient, working. a Instead of having the parts constructed as described for Fig. 8 of the drawings they may be formed as illustrated in Fig. 9, in which modification the core is recessed and provided with a thimble 11, into which projects the smooth or pintle portion 12 of a screw 13, the threaded portion of which engages threads in the boss 14.- of the side piece 1. The boss entering the recess ofthe brushcore prevents trash from coming into contact with the journal-bearing in the same manner as under the construction in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Between the adjacent ends of the two sections of the brush-core there is located a ring or collar 15, which is provided with a hub 1G, through which passes a metal rod 17, which serves to connect the members or sections of the brush-core, so as to make them practically one, rod 17 being secured in the two sections or members in any suitable way-for instance, by flattening a portion of the rod, as indicated at 1S-so that the same will wedge tightly in the core. The rod 17 is free to turn in the hub 16 of the ring 15. The ring is provided with lateral flanges or lips 19, which overlap the joint between the ring and the adjacent ends of the core-sections, and they serve to ellectnally prevent trash and dirt from entering between the ring and sections ofthe core, which il permitted would clog the working parts located within the ends on the members of the core and tend to impair their ellicient working. The hub of the ring 15 is provided with a bearing 2O for the inner end of a driving-rod 2.1, and is also provided at its periphery with a sleeve 22, through which the d riving-rod passes, the ring thus affording a bearing for the inner end ot' Ihedriving-rod and also a bearing for the same at its periphery. rThe driving-rod at its inner end carries a beveled pinion or gear 23, which meshes with a beveled pinion or gear 24, secured to the rod 17 so as to turn therewith. The rod 17 is also preferably formed with a collar at one side of the hub of the ring 15, as illustrated in Fig. ,3. The adjacent ends of the two members of the core are hollowed out, as indicated in Fi". 3, so as to form a chamber for the reception of the beveled gears 23 and 24 and the central portion of the ring 15. The beveled gear 23 is preferably secured to the driving-rod 21 by screwing it onto the threaded portion 26 of the driving-rod, as illustrated. When the driving-rod 21 is rotated, the brush-core is caused to revolve by means of beveled gears 23 and 24. The opposite end of the drivingrod is supported in a yoke 27, which extends from a sleeve or collar 23, which encircles a shaft 29, that is journaled at its opposite ends in bosses 30, formed on the inner faces of the side pieces 1, said shaft having the supporting and driving wheels 31 secured thereto. This end of the driving-rod is provided with a beveled pinion 32, which is secured thereto in any suitable manner so as to turn with the rod, but preferably by bein'g screwed onto the threaded portion 33 of the driving-rod, the portion of the driving-rod between the pinion and the driving-shaft 29 being smooth and having its bearing in the inner arm of the yoke 27, so as to turn therein, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The beveled pinion 32 meshes with two beveled gears 34, each of which has a hub 35 extendinginwardly and fitting inside ofthe sleeve 2S of the yoke 27 and around the driving-shaft 29, so as to be free to revolve on said driving-shaft independently of each other. The outer face of each beveled gear 3l is recessed to form a chamber adapted to receive a disk or plate 36, each plate or disk having a hub 37 secured tightly to the driving-shaft 29 by frictional contact or otherwise, so as to rotate therewith. Each disk or plate 36 is provided with a series of gravitating pawls or dogs 39, adapted to be thrown outward in the rotation ofthe disk, so as to engage notches 4-0, formed in the circumferential wall of the chamber or recessed portion of the beveled gear, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, so that when these pawls or dogs Aengage the notches in the wall of the chamber to the beveled gear said gear will be rotated with the disk, and thus be caused to transmit motion to the beveled pinion 32 and through it to the driving-rod 2l. The notches in the wall of one beveled gear and the pawls or dogs to the disk or plate ofthe saine gear are formed reversely to the corresponding parts in the other beveled gear and disk or plate, so that when the dogs and ratchet of one beveled gear and disk are in engagement with each other, so as to transmit motion from the driving-shaft to the bevj eled pinion 32, the ratchet and dogs of the other beveled gear 31 will be out of engagement with each other or inactive, so that no motion will be transmitted from that beveled gear. When, however, the direction of the rotation of the driving-shaft 29 is reversed, the dogs and ratchet of one beveled gear will be thrown ont of engagement with each other and those of the other beveled gear into engagem en t, so that motion will be transmitted from such other beveled gear to the beveled pinion, and thence to the driving-rod. Under this construction the driving-rod 2l and the brush-core 24 will always be rotated in thesame direction no matter in which direction the driving-shaft 29 may be turned, and therefore in either the backward or forward movement of the sweeper the brush will be revolved in one and the same direction. For the purpose of excluding dirt and trash from the dogs and their ratchets I provide each beveled gear 34 with a dust-proof cap 40a, which will be made of thin metal, so as to be snapped into place over the edge of the beveled gear, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

By connecting the brush-core, the drivingshaft, and the driving-rod and arranging the power-transmitting beveled gears and pinions and connecting parts at the drivingshaft end of the driving-rod and the powertransmitting pinions at the core end of the driving-rod, as specified, a very simple and efficient construction and arrangement of parts is obtained for rotating the brush in one and the saine directionwhether the carpet-sweeper be moved backwardly or forwardly, and the parts are rendered practically noiseless in their operation, and rattling is avoided. Furthermore, if the parts, especially at the points of connection between vthe driving-shaft and driving-rod, should become loose by weai' they can be readily tightened, so as to take up the wear, and thus render theparts irm and positive in their action without rattling and without noise. The active operating parts are also shielded or housed against the entrance of dust and trash, and

hence the life of the parts greatly prolonged and their efiiciency not in any wise impaired. This arrangement allows of more orless yielding of the parts in the direction of the length of the driving-rod in case of the sweeper being accidentally pushed with more or less force against any obstructionin the pathof movement of the sweeper, 'and hence a cushioning effect is produced to an extent sufficient to prevent jarring and injury to the parts.

The numeral 41 designates a dust-pan which is supported atits end next to the brush by pintles 42, which extend inwardly from the ends of arms 43, which are pivoted at their opposite ends, so as to swing to the sides 1 of the casing, said pintles 42 passing through the sides of the dust-pan and being connected together by a rod 44, which passes across the dust-pan on the inside and has its ends bearing in the sockets 42, the, free end of the dust-pan being formed with a lip45, which whenthe pan is in its normal position rests against the under side of a partition 46,

as indicated in Figs. 2, 1l, and 13 of the drawings. The dust-pan in the form illustrated in Figs. l0 and 11 is provided at opposite sides near the end ofthe pan next to the brush with wheels 47, which are inclosed in,

housings 48, lying inside'of thepan, the lower face ofthe wheels being adapted to rest upon the floor, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 12. From the forward portion of each swinging arm 43 extends upwardly an arm 49, which has a stud 50 projecting inwardly from its upper end, against which stud .presses one end of a spring 5l, which passes beneath a lug 52, projecting from the inside face of the casing, the other end of the spring resting on top of a lug 53, likewise projecting the inner face of the side of the casing, said spring being under tension, so as to press the roller end of the dust-pandownwardly and lift the sweeper-casing, so that the brush will press but lightly, if at all, against the iioor. When downward pressure is applied to the handle 54 of the sweeper-casing, thecasingis depressed, so as to cause the brush to bear against the floor during the operation of from sweeping,and when pressure is taken from off the handle the spring 51 lifts the casing, so that the brush will be in itsnormal position. A stud 55 projects from the inside face of the side of the casing and enters a notch 56, formed in one edge of the upwardly-extending arm 49, v so as to restrain the upward movement of the casing by said stud bearing against the shoulder or upper wall of the notch, said stud bearing against the under shoulder or Wall of the notch when the casing is depressed, and thus the upWard-and-downward movement of the casing is restricted andthe parts maintained in their proper position. By pivoting the rearends of the arms 43,'00l the sides of the casing, as above described, said arms are allowed a swinging movement in the depressing and raising of the sweepercasing, and in that way the dust-pan is main.- tained in its proper position-,in relation to the brush during the operation of sweeping. The free end of the dust-pan is held up` in its normal position by means of a spring 57, which is connected at one end to the partition 46 and at the opposite end bears against the inwardly-inclined end 58 of the dust-pan. When the dust-pan is tilted for the purpose of discharging its contents, the spring 57 is compressed or contracted, and when pressure on the free end of the dust-pan is removed the spring 57 expands and restores the-pan to its normal position and holds it in such position until the pan is again tilted for the purpose of discharging its contents. For the purpose ofipreventingthe dust in thespace of the casing above the dust-pan from settling on the top of the brush and also for the. purpose of preventing dust or trash being carried outside of the casing in therotation of the brush I provide a shield 59, which pro- Instead of using a wheel at the forward end of the dust-pan to contact with the iioor I may provide a Hat shoe 6l, which will be formed as a part of the arm 43 and will contact with the floor, as illustrated in Fig. 14 of the drawings, thereby serving to support ,the casing and brush above the door when not in operation and also permitting the casing and brush to be depressed during the operation of sweeping.

I have illustrated and described what I consider to be the best form and arrangement of the several parts; but it is obvious that changes can be made in the same and essential features of myinvention still be retained.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is 1. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the two-part brush-core connected to rotate together, of the ring or collar located between the adjacent ends of the two-part brush-core and having laterally-extending llianges or lips overlying the joint formed at the adjacent ends of said core, substantially as described.

2. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the casing and the brush-core, of the intermeshing pinions incased within a portion of the core, bearings for said pinions and a driving-rod for actuating said pinions, substantially as described.

3. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the two-part brush-core, of the ring or collar located between the two parts of the core, a rod connecting the two parts of the core, and rotatable in the hub of said ring or collar, a pinion connected to said rod, and a driving-rod having a bearing in said ring or collar and provided with a pinion meshing with the other pinion to rotate the brush-core, substantially as described.

" 4'. In a car et-swee er the combination with the two-part brush-core, of the ring or collar located between the two parts of the core and provided with a sleeve at its periphery, a rod connecting the two parts of the core and rotatable in the hub of said ring or collar, a driving-rod having a bearing in the sleeve and also in the .hub of said ring, and intermeshing pinions incased within the brush-core and connected one to the rod uniting the two parts of the core and the other to the driving-rod, substantially as described. 5. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the brush-core and a driving-rod for transmitting motion thereto, of a gear on said driving-rod, a driving-shaft extending transversely to the driving-rod and provided with gears both of which mesh with the drivingrod gear, one of the gears on the drivingshaft operating to revolve the driving-rod when the driving-shaft is rotated in one direction and the other gear operating to revolve the driving-rod in the same direction when the driving-shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

6. In a carpet-sweeper, thecombination with the brush-core and a driving-rod for transmitting motion thereto, of a gear on said driving-rod, a driving-shaft extending transversely to the driving-rod and provided with gears, both of which mesh with the drivingrod gear and are mounted loosely on the driving-shaft, and a clutch mechanism for each of the gears mounted on the driving-shaft, the clutch mechanism of one gear acting re- Versely to that of the other gear, whereby one gear will be clutched automatically to the driving-shaft when .the latter is rotated in one direction and the other gear clutched automatically thereto when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

7. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the brush-core and a driving-rod for transmitting motion thereto, of a gear on said driving-rod, a driving-shaft extending transversely to the driving-rod and provided with gears both of which mesh with the drivingrod gear and are mounted loosely on the driving-shaft, ratchet-teeth or cavities formed on each of said two loosely-mounted gears, and disks or plates mounted on the driving-shaft to rotate therewith, said disks or plates provided with gravitating pawls or dogs adapted automatically in the rotation of the drivingshaft to engage with the ratchet-teeth or cavities of the gears, the ratchet-teeth or cavities and dogs of one gear and disk adapted to clutch said gear to the driving-shaft in the rotation of the shaft in one direction, and the corresponding parts of the other gear and disk adapted to eieet automatically such clutching engagement when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, substantially as described. l 8. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the brush-core and a driving-rod for transmitting motion thereto, of a drivingshaft extending transversely to the drivingrod, a sleeve or collar encircling the drivingshaft and provided with a yoke supporting one end of the driving-rod, gears provided with inwardly-extending hubs fitting loosely to the driving-shaft and entering the sleeve or collar` which encircles the shaft, the gear secured to the driving-rod and meshing with said loosely-mounted gears, and mechanism for clutching one of the looselymounted gears to the driving-shaft in the rotation of said shaft in one direction, and the other gear thereto in the rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

9. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the rotatable shaft, of the gear-wheel mounted loosely thereon and formed in one face with a chamber or recess having its circumferential wall formed with ratchet-teeth or cavities, a disk or plate secured to the shaft to rotate therewith and provided with automatically-gravitating pawls or dogs to engage the teeth or cavities of the gear when the shaft is rotated in one direction, and a to snap over the dust -proof cap adapted IOO IOS

IIO

vIo

chambered portion of the gears, substantially as described.

10. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination With the sweeper-casing, the brush, and the dust-pan, of swinging arms pivotally connected with the sweeper-casing next to the free end of the dust-pan and at the opposite end connected With a member to contact with the floor, and a spring connected with the sweeper-casing and with a part of one of said arms and serving to normally sustain the casing and the brush in a raised position and permitting the easing and brush to be lowered, substantially as described.

l1. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the casing and a brush projecting in front of said casing, of swinging arms on both sides of the casin g pivotally connected at one end to the sides of the casing and having shoes or projections extending from said arms to contact With the iioor for the purpose of normally sustaining said casing and'brush at a proper distance from the floor and springs secured to the casing and bearing against .a portion of the swinging arms for automatic adjustment of said brush in relation to the oor, substantially as described.

12. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with th'e casing, thev brush, and the drivingshaft, of the rotatable power-transmitting shaft and gears connecting it with the brush and driving-shaft, said power-transmitting shaft being free from rigid connection with the sweeper-casing, and suitable bearings for said shaft, substantially as described.

13. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with the brush, and driving-rod for transmitting motion thereto, and the driving-shaft, of the oppositely-arranged loosely-mounted gear-Wheels, the gear-wheel intermediate of and meshing with said oppositely-arranged gear-Wheels, and the disks or plates arranged one opposite to the inside face of each of the oppositely-arranged gear-Wheels to maintain the gear-wheels in true, substantially as-described.

14. In a carpet-sweeper, the combination with a drivinggear having an internalynotched annular portion, of a shaft provided with-a disk or plate formed with sockets carrying gravitating and centrifugally-operating dogs, and frictional members on opposite sides of said socket-disk for engaging with the sides of the dogs inthe movement of the socket-disk to assist iu they gravitating and centrifugal movement of the dogs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALVIN II. DODD.

Witnesses:

C. D. BUTTERFIELD, CHAs. DoRRANoE. 

